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Waiting game drags on as free agency period looms for New Orleans Saints

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New Orleans Saints tackle Jermon Bushrod, left, and guard Jahri Evans take a break during a timeout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2012.
(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

As the curiosity continues of how the New Orleans Saints will squeeze themselves under the salary cap by Tuesday, the team's top unrestricted free agent is trying to maintain the same level-headed mind-set he's kept throughout the offseason. And yet the future for Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod remains in limbo.

When asked if anything was happening with talks with the Saints, Bushrod said via text message late Wednesday night, "Not that I know of. Just trying to patiently wait."

Bushrod's waiting should end Saturday when the period where agents can begin negotiating with other teams opens. The Saints don't figure to be major participants in free agency, but it doesn't mean there's a shortage a moves they have to undertake leading up to and following the opening of free agency.

The Saints apparently will be working on getting under the salary cap all the way until the Tuesday deadline as they reportedly sit about $3 million over the $123 million cap. It's looking more like the Saints won't have a lot of money to play with in free agency. It also means the Saints may not be breaking the bank for Bushrod or any of their unrestricted free agents.

There was no real movement on the contract restructuring of defensive end Will Smith as of Thursday afternoon, according to a source. Something will happen with Smith one way or the other: he will accept a paycut or will be cut by the Saints thanks to his $14.5 million salary cap figure.

There also doesn't seem like there's been much movement with linebacker Jonathan Vilma ($8.6 million cap number), who faces a situation similar to Smith's. Safety Roman Harper would be more in the category of a contract restructuring rather than a paycut with his $7.1 million cap figure in 2013 and a $7.9 million cap number for 2014.

Bushrod has maintained he's looking for a "fair deal" meaning he's likely not looking for mega bucks from the Saints as his top priority would be to remain in New Orleans. But the possibility of Bushrod leaving the Saints grows by the day.

The two-time Pro Bowler made nearly $10 million through his two-year contract he signed in 2011. So Bushrod is looking for a pay raise, but the Saints could be waiting for the market to set the price for Bushrod before making a significant offer.

Bushrod is also aware the Saints have a precedent of not breaking the bank for offensive linemen as the team has let Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin and Jeff Faine walk for bigger bucks elsewhere. Jahri Evans is the only offensive lineman the Saints shelled out massive dollars to keep. The Saints did hand Ben Grubbs a hefty payday last offseason, though, as an unrestricted free agent

The Bears would make a lot of sense for Bushrod if he left the Saints. Former offensive line coach Aaron Kromer mentored Bushrod for the last several seasons before becoming Chicago's offensive coordinator/offensive line coach this offseason.

It doesn't appear like the Saints are in a major hurry to sign any of them before free agency opens.

Daniel may be one of the more least-played free agents to receive attention from teams with instability at quarterback. Daniel may be looking to jump to teams such as Cleveland and Arizona for a chance to become a starter.

"I definitely think that I'm ready to step out and be a starter in this league," Daniel said just before the end of the season. "I think I can play at a high level. I've showed it in preseason, I've showed it in practice when given the chance."

Daniel said Wednesday via Twitter: "Such a weird, eerie feeling not knowing where you're gonna be playing ball at for the next 3 or so years...#March 12th, 4pm!"

As for the Saints' restricted free agents, the team is expected to issue tenders for running back Chris Ivory, center Brian de la Puente and defensive end Junior Galette, according to sources. The question of the level of compensation of each tender will keep the players in temporary limbo as the deadline for tendering restricted players is also Tuesday.

Issuing a second-round tender would cost the Saints a little over $2 million per player for 2013, and is a near sure-fire way of keeping other teams away from Ivory, de la Puente or Galette. Any of the three players would probably receive interest if the Saints issued a no-compensation tender, which would be a one-year $1.323 million deal.

Long snapper Justin Drescher is also a restricted free agent. It's highly unlikely the Saints will tender Drescher, but it's highly likely the Saints will push to keep him.